Cleveland Browns linebacker Ricky
“Tank” Carder, Jr. has apologized for using a gay slur on
Twitter.

When Because I'm a Guy tweeted, “Trying
to betray all your teammates as soon as the game ends” on
Wednesday, Carder responded: “@causewereguys unfollowed...your a
faggot for that.” (This tweet has since been deleted.)

One follower attempted to intervene,
“@tankcarder I think he means in Call of Duty Tank.”

On Monday, Carder, 23, defended himself
from critics.

“@CoachSavino yea they all getting
butt hurt, and they are just chiming in. Preciate it bro!”

“@craigcraiglife I don't agree with
being gay or lesbian at all, but saying faggot doesn't make me a
homophobe, it's just a word.”

After tweeting, “Stay
unapologetically strong,” Carder messaged a non-apology: “If I
offended in anyway, I do apologize, thought the guy was bashing team
sports, big misunderstanding.”

On Tuesday, he added, “I want to
sincerely apologize for the word I used! I did not in anyway mean to
offend anyone! That tweet doesn't define me as a person!” and “I
was not bashing the gay community in any way … if you knew me you
would know I wouldn't do that. Again I'm sorry if you were
offended.”